Starlink is the largest satellite constellation ever deployed — and it's continuously growing, as today's planned launch demonstrates. There are currently more than 6,850 active Starlink spacecraft in LEO, according to satellite tracker and astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.

After separation from the upper stage, the lower-stage booster will attempt to return to Starbase to land at its launch tower. The company achieved the feat during the fifth flight of Starship on Oct. 13 but was unable to repeat it on the sixth flight in November. That booster diverted to a water landing in the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX successfully launched its first Starlink mission of 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday. SpaceX sent 24 of the communication satellites to low-Earth orbit.

Florida's Space Coast hosted a record-shattering 93 orbital rocket launches during 2024. Looking ahead, will this year's total set another new annual record? Stay tuned. Crews at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are gearing up for a busy January,